Drive system

ABSTRACT

A drive assembly for driving an implement is provided. The drive assembly includes a gear drive mechanism comprising a first drive gear rotatable about a first axis of rotation; a second drive gear rotatable about a second axis of rotation and engaged to the first drive gear; a driven member driven by the second drive gear, engaged to the implement, and rotatable about a third axis of rotation; a lobe; and a flexible link engaged to the first drive gear and the lobe, the flexible link comprising a first loop engaged to the lobe and a second loop engaged to the first drive gear. The drive assembly also includes a handle member engaged to the gear drive mechanism and configured to drive the lobe. The implement is rotated about the third axis of rotation as the handle member is moved from an unfired position to a fired position.

CROSS-REFERENCE

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/107,907 filed on Dec. 16, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,089,243, which isa continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/075,708 filed onMar. 30, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,695,490, which claims priority fromGerman Patent Application Serial No. 10 2010 016 322.8-16, filed on Apr.1, 2010, and German Patent Application Serial No. 10 2010 017 099.2,filed on May 26, 2010. The contents of these prior applications areincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a driving unit to transmit force from oneobject to another.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A driving unit is described herein. According to one aspect, a drivedevice for a device for treating or processing food is provided. Thedrive device includes a housing that can be attached to a base; anactuating lever articulated on the housing in a lever bearing in apivotable manner about a first axis of rotation; and a force transfermechanism driven by the actuating lever to rotate an output shaftextending from the housing into the base about a second axis of rotationthat is perpendicular to the first axis of rotation. The actuating leveris lowered from an upright position in the direction of the housing fordriving the force transfer mechanism. Further, the lever bearing islocated such that the area through which the actuating lever passesduring the actuation of the actuating lever is located laterally next toat least one plane that is perpendicular to the first axis of rotationand passes through the second axis of rotation.

According to another aspect, a processing device for processing food isprovided. The processing device includes a base, which accommodates thefood, in the form of a bowl; a removable housing which closes the bowl;an operating tool positioned within the bowl; and an output shaftextending from the housing and driving the operating tool. The outputshaft can be driven via a drive device so as to rotate about a firstaxis of rotation. The drive device comprises an actuating leverpivotally mounted on the removable housing in a lever bearing; and aforce transfer mechanism which is capable of transferring a pivot motionof the actuating lever into a drive of a force output. The actuatinglever can be lowered from an upright position in the direction of theremovable housing for driving the force transfer mechanism, the forceoutput rotating the operating tool about the first axis of rotation.Further, the lever bearing is disposed such that the area through whichthe actuating lever passes during actuation is located laterally next toat least one plane that passes through the first axis of rotation.

According to yet another aspect, a drive unit movable between an unfiredposition and a fired position to drive an implement is provided. Thedrive unit includes a frame; a housing engaged to the frame, the housingcomprising a support surface for a hand of a user, a base engaged to theframe and forming a cavity therebetween; a first drive gear disposed inthe cavity and having a first axis of rotation; a handle member engagedto the first drive gear, the handle member disposed outside of thecavity, proximate to the support surface; a second drive gear disposedin the cavity and having a second axis of rotation, the second drivegear engaged to the first drive gear; and a driven member having a thirdaxis of rotation and disposed at least partially outside of the cavity.The driven member is driven only when the drive unit is moved from theunfired position to the fired position, and the third axis of rotationextends through the support surface. Further, the handle member does notcross the third axis of rotation.

A better understanding of the invention will be obtained from thefollowing detailed descriptions and accompanying drawings, which setforth one or more illustrative embodiments that are indicative of thevarious ways in which the principals of the invention may be employed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a kitchen utensilas described herein.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of an embodiment of a drive train for thekitchen utensil of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded close up of an embodiment of a spiral radius gearand a spur gear of the drive train of FIG. 2, with the spur gear on top.

FIG. 4 is an exploded close up of an embodiment of a spiral radius gearand a spur gear of the drive train of FIG. 2, with the spiral gear ontop.

FIG. 5 is an embodiment of a pinion gear of the drive train of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a quarter pinion gearof the drive train of FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the quarter pinion of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the assembled drive train of FIG. 2, with thedrive train at the end of the cycle.

FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the assembled drive train of FIG. 2, with thedrive train at the beginning of the cycle.

FIG. 10 is a top view of the embodiment disclosed in FIG. 2 in the firedposition, showing just the spiral radius gear and the quarter piniongear for clarity.

FIG. 11 is a top view of the embodiment disclosed in FIG. 10 in theun-fired position, showing just the spiral radius gear and the quarterpinion gear for clarity.

FIG. 12 is a top view of a second embodiment of a drive train in thefired position, showing just the first quarter pinion gear and thesecond quarter pinion gear for clarity.

FIG. 13 is a top view of embodiment of the drive train disclosed in FIG.12 in the un-fired position, showing just the first quarter pinion gearand the second quarter pinion gear for clarity.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The description that follows describes, illustrates and exemplifies oneor more particular embodiments of the present invention in accordancewith its principles. This description is not provided to limit theinvention to the embodiments described herein, but rather to explain andteach the principles of the invention in such a way to enable one ofordinary skill in the art to understand these principles and, with thatunderstanding, be able to apply them to practice not only theembodiments described herein, but also other embodiments that may cometo mind in accordance with these principles. The scope of the presentinvention is intended to cover all such embodiments that may fall withinthe scope of the appended claims, either literally or under the doctrineof equivalents.

It should be noted that in the description and drawings, like orsubstantially similar elements may be labeled with the same referencenumerals. However, sometimes these elements may be labeled withdiffering numbers, such as, for example, in cases where such labelingfacilitates a more clear description. Additionally, the drawings setforth herein are not necessarily drawn to scale, and in some instancesproportions may have been exaggerated to more clearly depict certainfeatures. Such labeling and drawing practices do not necessarilyimplicate an underlying substantive purpose. As stated above, thepresent specification is intended to be taken as a whole and interpretedin accordance with the principles of the present invention as taughtherein and understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.

The present invention is described herein with respect to a drive unitthat is used to transmit force from one object to another. It may beused, for example, with an exemplary kitchen utensil 10, which is shownin FIG. 1. It will be understood that the drive mechanism disclosedherein may be used in other applications.

In the depicted embodiment, kitchen utensil 10 comprises handle member12, which comprises first end 14 having a gripping portion 15, andsecond end 16 that is engaged to lid 20. In order to provide for theplacement of the user's hand on the lid 20 in order to stabilize kitchenutensil 10, in the depicted embodiments, the lid 20 includes a supportsurface 109, and handle member 12 is offset from the axis of rotation103 of implement 52 and from the support surface 109.

As depicted in FIG. 1, handle member 12 is rotatably engaged to lid 20by means of a pair of shafts 24, to move between an “up position” (notshown) and a “down” position, shown, e.g., in FIG. 1. The scope of thepresent invention includes embodiments with different means ofengagement. For example, handle member 12 may slide laterally along lid20 to motivate drive train 30. Handle lock 17 is disposed on lid 20proximate to gripping portion 15. Handle lock 17 is movable between afirst position, in which handle member 12 is prevented from moving withrespect to lid 20, and a second position, in which handle member 12 ispermitted to move with respect to lid 20. By way of additional example,the means of engagement may not be a handle member, but may alsocomprise a pull cord, a button, a crank, or any other means ofengagement.

The depicted food processor embodiment includes base 21 (or drive train30) engaged to container 50. Disposed within container 50 to act on food(not shown) that is placed in container 50 is processing implement 52,which is propelled by handle member 12 as described in detail below.Processing implement 52 may comprise a plurality of blades 54 disposedabout central pillar 56 in order to slice or chop the food. Otherprocessing implements may employed in a food processing device, such asa basket, whisk, etc. In other applications, a different rotated elementwill be used in place of processing implement 52.

FIG. 2 depicts drive train 30 of kitchen utensil 10. Lobe 32 isrotatably engaged to frame 22, and is driven by handle member 12. In thedepicted embodiment, lobe 32 is disposed on axle 33, which is disposedin holes 34 and 35 formed in frame 22. A pair of shafts 24 engage bothhandle member 12 and lobe 32 and transfer rotation from handle member 12to lobe 32.

Various components are disposed in a cavity formed between frame 22 andbase 21. Flexible link 60 comprises first end 61 engaged to lobe 32 andsecond end 62. In the depicted embodiment, flexible link 60 is a singlepiece of fabric double over itself in order to form a loop at each end61 and 62. However, it will be appreciated by those in the art that thescope of the invention includes any flexible link. Flexible link 60 isengaged to lobe 32 proximate to first end 61. In this manner, rotationof handle member 12 causes linear movement of flexible link 60, asdepicted, for example, by arrows 63 and 64 in FIG. 9.

A stepless gear mechanism drives pinion gear 90 with a torque that isinitially high and gradually moves to low as handle member 12 moves fromthe un-fired position to the fired position, while driving pinion gear90 with low speed and gradually moving to high speed as handle member ismoved from the un-fired position to the fired position. In the firstembodiment, quarter pinion 40 is likewise disposed within the cavity,and rotates about shaft 37. In the depicted embodiment, quarter pinion40 will only rotate about 90 degrees when handle member 12 is cycledfrom its up position to its down position. As such, the beginning of therotation cycle for quarter pinion corresponds to the up position ofhandle member 12, while the end of the rotation cycle corresponds to thedown position. As seen in detail in FIGS. 2, 6 and 7, quarter pinion 40comprises arcuate gear form 42 and rotates about axis of rotation 45.Arcuate gear form 42 has a first end 43 located a distance d1 from axisof rotation 45, and a second end 44 located a distance d2 from axis ofrotation 45, wherein d1 is less than d2. In this manner, the torquerequired to rotate quarter pinion 40 is greater at the beginning of therotation cycle than at the end of the rotation cycle.

As seen in detail in FIG. 6, quarter pinion 40 further comprisesstructure 55 formed on a first side thereof to engage flexible link 60.As depicted, second end 62 of flexible link 60 is formed into a loop,which is disposed in internal section 53 of structure 55 and wrapsaround anchor 58, and a portion of flexible link 60 passes throughentrance 59 and exit 57. As seen, entrance 56 and exit 57 areperpendicular to one another. As a result, lateral movement of flexiblelink 60 results in rotation of quarter pinion 40.

Springs 41(a) and (b) are engaged to frame 22 and quarter pinion 40, andbias quarter pinion 40 to the beginning of its rotation cycle, asdescribed above. Springs 41(a) and (b) may be replaced by one spring 41,but a single spring must be of sufficient strength to overcome thestrength of spring 72. Spring 72 applies appropriate force to engageengagement means 81 and 82, allowing for rotational re-set of handlemember 12, as described in detail below.

A first embodiment of the present invention is depicted in FIGS. 10 and11. As seen, quarter pinion 40 is drivingly engaged, at a mesh point107, to spiral radius gear 47, which rotates about shaft 38. As seen indetail in, for example, FIG. 4, spiral radius gear 47 comprises gearform 48 formed on the periphery thereof. The radius of the gear form 48constantly increases, and causes gear form 48 to appear as a spiral. Forexample, tooth 48 a is closer to the axis of rotation 102 of spiralradius gear 47 than is tooth 48 b. In this manner, the torque requiredto move spiral radius gear 47 gradually decreases through the rotationcycle. Additionally, the small radius of spiral radius gear 47correspond to, and engage with, the large distance d2 of quarter pinion40, while the large radius of spiral radius gear 47 correspond to, andengage with, the small distance d1 of quarter pinion 40. By way ofexample, tooth 48 a engages quarter pinion 40 proximate to second end44, while tooth 48 b engages quarter pinion 40 proximate to first end43.

Spiral radius gear 47 is drivingly disposed on spur gear 70, which alsorotates about shaft 38. Spiral radius gear 47 drives spur gear 70through engagement means 80, which allows spiral radius gear 47 totransmit rotation to spur gear 70 only when rotated in one direction. Asseen in FIGS. 3 and 4, a first engagement means 81 is formed on spiralradius gear 47, while a corresponding second engagement means 82 isformed on spur gear 70. In the depicted embodiment, both engagementmeans 81 and 82 comprise a series of ramps, ending in a near-verticalside, or even a negative angle with respect to vertical. When spiralradius gear 47 is rotated in a first direction (i.e., clockwise in FIG.4), the vertical sides of engagement means 81 and 82 engage each other,and rotation is transferred from spiral radius gear 47 to spur gear 70.When spiral radius gear 47 is rotated in a second direction, oppositethe first direction (i.e., counter-clockwise in FIG. 4), the ramps ofengagement means 81 and 82 engage and slide over each other. In thisdirection, spiral radius gear 47 is rotated, but no rotation istransferred to spur gear 70. Spring 72 is disposed about shaft 38 andengaged to spiral radius gear 47, biasing spiral radius gear 47 intoengagement with spur gear 70.

Spur gear 70 is engaged to pinion 90. As depicted in detail in, forexample, FIG. 5, pinion 90 comprises gear form 91 and extension 92,which extends from gear form 91, through base 21 into container 50.Processing implement 52 engages pinion 90 through extension 92.

A second embodiment of the present invention is depicted, for example,in FIGS. 12 and 13. For the sake of simplicity, FIGS. 12 and 13, likeFIGS. 10 and 11, depict only the engagement between first quarter pinion140 and second quarter pinion 150.

FIG. 12 shows an initial state of the drive device before the handlemember 12 is moved from the unfired position to the fired position.

The first and second quarter pinions 140 and 150 are constructed assemi-circular disc elements and have teeth 142 and 152, respectively,distributed over the circumference. The two quarter pinions 140 and 150engaged each other at engagement point 170.

In the initial state depicted in FIG. 12, a first spacing 144 betweenthe axis of rotation of first quarter pinion 140 and the engagementpoint 170 is smaller than a second spacing 145 between the axis ofrotation of second quarter pinion 150 and the engagement point 170.

FIG. 13 depicts first and second quarter pinions 140 and 150 afterhandle member 12 has been fired. In the position shown in FIG. 13, thefirst spacing 144 is larger than the second spacing 145.

In this way, the fulcrum of first quarter pinion 140 changes during thecycle of actuation of handle member 12. For example, the length of thefirst spacing 144 increases, starting from the state shown in FIG. 12 tothe state shown in FIG. 13. Simultaneously, the fulcrum of secondquarter pinion 150 also changes during the cycle of actuation of handlemember 12. For example, the length of the second spacing 145 decreases,starting from the length shown in FIG. 12 and ending in the lengthdepicted in FIG. 13.

The operation of depicted kitchen utensil 10 is as follows, and isdescribed with respect to the first embodiment described above. It willbe appreciated by those in the art that the description of the operationapplies to the second embodiment described above as well.

In storage, handle member 12 is locked in the down, fired positionagainst lid 20, as depicted in FIG. 1. In this position, spring 72 isextended, and quarter pinion 40 and spiral radius gear 47 are at the endof their respective rotational cycles. When handle member 12 isunlocked, spring 72 biases quarter pinion 40 to the beginning of itsrotational cycle, causing handle member 12 to rotate, along an axis ofrotation 104, to near vertical with respect to lid 20, as depicted inFIG. 9. As a user rotates handle member 12 toward lid 20, along the axisof rotation 104, spring 72 again becomes extended and flexible link 60is pulled in a first lateral direction, depicted as arrow 63 in FIG. 9,causing quarter pinion 40 to begin its rotation cycle. Quarter pinion 40rotates spiral radius gear 47. In this direction, the engagement means80 transfers rotation from spiral radius gear 47 to spur gear 70, whichthen turns pinion 90, which turns processing implement 52 in onedirection only.

After handle member reaches lid 20, the user releases handle member 12.Again, springs 41(a) and (b) bias quarter pinion 40 back to thebeginning of the rotational cycle. This causes flexible link 60 to bepulled in the second lateral direction, depicted in FIG. 9, againcausing handle member to rotate to the near vertical position depictedin FIG. 9. This also causes spiral radius gear 47 to rotate back to thebeginning of its rotational cycle. However, because this rotation is inthe opposite direction from that described above, engagement means 80does not permit rotation to be transferred to spur gear 70. Thus,processing implement 52 is only rotated in one direction.

While specific configurations of the invention have been described indetail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and alternatives to those details could be developed inlight of the overall teachings of this disclosure. The particulararrangements disclosed herein are meant to be illustrative only and notlimited as to the scope of the invention which is to be given the fullbreadth of the appended claims and any equivalents thereof.

1. A drive assembly for driving an implement, the drive assemblycomprising: a gear drive mechanism comprising: a first drive gearrotatable about a first axis of rotation, a second drive gear rotatableabout a second axis of rotation, the second drive gear being engaged tothe first drive gear, a driven member driven by the second drive gearand engaged to the implement, the driven member being rotatable about athird axis of rotation, a lobe, and a flexible link engaged to the firstdrive gear and the lobe, wherein the flexible link comprises a firstloop engaged to the lobe and a second loop engaged to the first drivegear; and a handle member engaged to the gear drive mechanism andconfigured to drive the lobe, wherein the implement is rotated about thethird axis of rotation as the handle member is moved from an unfiredposition to a fired position.
 2. The drive assembly of claim 1, whereinthe gear drive mechanism further comprises: a first pinion gearcomprising a first gear form; a second gear form formed on the seconddrive gear; and a second pinion gear driven by the first pinion gear andengaged to the driven member, wherein the second gear form is configuredto transfer rotation of the second drive gear to the first pinion gearthrough the first gear form only when the handle member is moved fromthe unfired position to the fired position.
 3. The drive assembly ofclaim 2, wherein the gear drive mechanism further comprises anengagement spring engaged to the second drive gear, wherein theengagement spring biases the second drive gear toward the first piniongear.
 4. The drive assembly of claim 1, wherein the handle member doesnot cross the third axis of rotation as the handle member is moved fromthe unfired position to the fired position.
 5. The drive assembly ofclaim 1, wherein the handle member is pivotable about a fourth axis ofrotation that is perpendicular to the third axis of rotation, and thefourth axis of rotation is offset from and does not intersect the thirdaxis of rotation.
 6. A device for driving an implement, comprising: agear housing that can be attached to a container; an actuating leverdisposed on the gear housing in a lever bearing, the actuating leverbeing pivotable about a first axis of rotation; and a gear drivemechanism disposed within the gear housing, the gear drive mechanismbeing driven by the actuating lever to rotate an output shaft about asecond axis of rotation that is perpendicular to the first axis ofrotation, the output shaft extending from the gear housing into thecontainer, wherein the actuating lever is lowered from an uprightposition in the direction of the gear housing for driving the gear drivemechanism, and the lever bearing is located such that the actuatinglever passes through an area, during its actuation, that is locatedlaterally next to a plane, and wherein the plane is perpendicular to thefirst axis of rotation, and is parallel to and passes through the secondaxis of rotation.
 7. The device of claim 6, wherein the gear housingincludes a support surface for a hand of an operator, the supportsurface being arranged on the side of the plane located opposite to thearea where the actuating lever passes.
 8. The device of claim 6, whereinthe implement comprises a functional tool driven by the output shaft. 9.A drive assembly for driving an implement, the drive assemblycomprising: a gear drive assembly comprising: a first drive gearrotatable about a first axis of rotation between a first position and asecond position, and a second drive gear rotatable about a second axisof rotation between a third position and a fourth position, the seconddrive gear being engaged to the first drive gear at a mesh point; and ahandle member engaged to the gear drive assembly and movable between anunfired position and a fired position; wherein the first drive gear andthe second drive gear are in the first position and the third position,respectively, when the handle member is in the unfired position, and inthe second position and the fourth position, respectively, when thehandle member is in the fired position; wherein the mesh point moveswith respect to the axes of rotation of the first and second drive gearsas the handle member moves from the unfired position to the firedposition such that the distance between the mesh point and the firstaxis of rotation is shorter when the handle member is in the unfiredposition than when the handle member is in the fired position, and theimplement is rotated by the gear drive assembly as the handle member ismoved from the unfired position to the fired position.
 10. The driveassembly as set forth in claim 9, wherein the first drive gear is apinion quarter gear and the second drive gear is a spiral radius gear.11. The drive assembly as set forth in claim 10, wherein the gear driveassembly further comprises a return spring engaged to the first drivegear, wherein the return spring biases the first drive gear toward thefirst position.
 12. The drive assembly as set forth in claim 11, whereinthe gear drive assembly further comprises: a first pinion gear engagedto the second drive gear, and a second pinion gear engaged to the firstpinion gear and to the implement, wherein rotation of the second drivegear is transferred to the first pinion gear only when the handle membermoves from the unfired position to the fired position.
 13. The driveassembly as set forth in claim 12, further comprising: a containerengaged to the gear drive assembly, wherein the implement is positionedwithin the container and comprises a plurality of blades disposed arounda central shaft.
 14. The drive assembly of claim 1, wherein the firstdrive gear is a pinion quarter gear and the second drive gear is aspiral radius gear.
 15. The drive assembly of claim 1, wherein theimplement is a food processing implement comprising a plurality ofblades disposed about a central shaft.
 16. The drive assembly of claim1, wherein the second drive gear is engaged to the first drive gear at amesh point, and the distance between the mesh point and the first axisof rotation is longer when the handle member is in the fired positionthan when the handle member is in the unfired position
 17. The device ofclaim 6, wherein the gear drive mechanism includes: a first drive gear,and a second drive gear engaged to the first drive gear, wherein theoutput shaft is driven by the second drive gear.
 18. The device of claim17, wherein the first drive gear is a pinion quarter gear and the seconddrive gear is a spiral radius gear.
 19. The device of claim 17, whereinthe gear drive mechanism further includes: a lobe driven by theactuating lever, and a flexible link engaged to the first drive gear andthe lobe, wherein the flexible link comprises a first loop engaged tothe lobe and a second loop engaged to the first drive gear.
 20. Thedevice of claim 17, wherein the gear drive mechanism further comprises:a first pinion gear comprising a first gear form; a second gear formformed on the second drive gear; and a second pinion gear driven by thefirst pinion gear and engaged to the output shaft, wherein the secondgear form is configured to transfer rotation of the second drive gear tothe first pinion gear through the first gear form only when theactuating lever is lowered from the upright position.